Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) announced Thursday he will bring the SAVE America Act to the Senate floor next week, where it is expected to fail to meet the 60-vote threshold for passage.
The bill mandates proof of citizenship for voting registration and a photo ID to cast ballots. Polls indicate Americans overwhelmingly support nationwide voter identification requirements, with 83 percent backing such measures regardless of race or political affiliation. Thune stated on the Senate floor that “Americans overwhelmingly agree voters should have to show an ID at the polls” and claimed “it kinda feels like the only Americans not to support voter ID requirements are Democrats here in Congress.”
President Trump has labeled the SAVE America Act as “by far the most popular Bill of its kind ever put before Congress.” He recently vowed not to sign any legislation until the bill passes, declaring it must be “done immediately” and “supersedes everything else.” Congressional Democrats have opposed the measure, arguing it will adversely affect women and minorities. Thune countered that Democrats’ objections constitute an insult to these groups and accused them of opposing the bill because they know about illegal voting by Democrats.
Despite the bill’s popularity, Senate Republicans have hesitated to move forward without changing the filibuster rule. Thune opposes such a change, expressing concerns about unintended consequences if Democrats regain control of the Senate in the future. The House Freedom Caucus criticized Thune for advancing the bill under conditions ensuring its failure on the Senate floor, with one member stating: “Instead of forcing Democrats into a real talking filibuster, [Thune] is fast-tracking the SAVE America Act to the floor where it’ll die on arrival.”
Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), a House Freedom Caucus member, expressed cautious optimism and urged continued pressure on senators to force a true filibuster for passage. Last month, the House advanced the bill on a mostly party-line vote, with Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) being the sole Democrat to support it. Earlier this week, President Trump warned that blue states run elections “horribly” and indicated he would take steps to “nationalize” elections if necessary.
